haul

1to pull something or someone with a lot of efforthaul something/somebodyThe wagons were hauled by horses.haul something/somebody + adv./prep.He reached down and hauled Liz up onto the wall.The car was hauled out of the river.fishermen hauling in their netsThesauruspulldragdrawhaultowtugThese words all mean to move something in a particular direction, especially toward or behind you.pull to hold something and move it in a particular direction; to hold or be attached to a vehicle and move it along behind you:Pull the chair closer to the table.They use horses to pull their carts.drag to pull someone or something in a particular direction or behind you, usually along the ground, and especially with effort:The sack is too heavy to lift—you'll have to drag it.draw (formal) to move someone or something by pulling them/it gently; to pull a vehicle such as a carriage:I drew my chair closer to the fire.a horse-drawn carriagehaul to pull someone or something to a particular place with a lot of effort:Liz hauled her suitcase up the stairs.drag or haul?You usually drag something behind you along the ground; you usually haul something toward you, often upward toward you. Dragging something often needs effort, but hauling something always does.tow to pull a car, boat, or light plane behind another vehicle, using a rope or chain:Our car was towed away by the police.tug to pull someone or something hard in a particular direction:The boy tugged at his father's sleeve.Patterns to pull/drag/draw/haul/tow somebody/something along/down/toward something to pull/drag/draw/haul/tow somebody/something behind you to pull/drag/draw/haul a cart/sled to pull/draw a coach/carriage to pull/haul/tow a trailerhorses pull/draw/haul somethingdogs pull/drag/haul something

2haul yourself up/out of, etc.to move yourself somewhere slowly and with a lot of effortShe hauled herself out of bed.He hauled himself up.

3haul somebody + adv./prep.to force someone to go somewhere they do not want to goA number of suspects have been hauled in for questioning.He was hauled off to jail.

4[usually passive]haul somebody (up) before somebody/somethingto make someone appear in court in order to be judgedHe was hauled up before the local authorities for dangerous driving.